The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1887-11-19
ARTHUR.

Several years ago I lived in a narrow
street near the Champs Elysees, known
as the Passage des Douze Maisons.
Picture to yourself this silent and de-
serted corner of the faubourg, over
shadowed by the grandeur Of q moro
arlstocratic neighbothood, and its still
ness only interrupted by the occasional
noise of a rolling carriage.
Year after year, whether from ava
rice or indifference, tho owner Of The
property left it unimproved, in strange
contrast to its beautiful surroundings
The low houses, with no brighter out
look than their tiny and neglected
gardens, were most awkwardly built,
the steps running Zip on the outside,
with here and there wooden platforms
used for The two-fold purpose Of dying
clothes and for affordmg refuge to half
starved cats, pet ravens and tame rab-
bits. These tenements were the homes
Of mechanics, Of people forced to prac-
tlce the direst economy, Of artists (the
latter attracted by the trees), and near
by were some lodging houses Of SO
mean an aspect that the fact Of their
having sheltered misers from time I'M
memorial seemed loudly proclaimed.
Yet III this immediate vicinity lay
the Champs Elysees III all its noisy bril-
liancy. There one heard a steady roll
of wheels, q constant clanlling of har-
ness chains, quick footsteps upon the
pavements, or the heavy shutting OF
gates after some emblazoned carriage
had ratified through them. At times
the muflled sound Of piano, or Of the
violiDs in the Mabille, fell upon the ear,
and, forming background to all, were
rows of imposing dwellings, gracefully
standing out against the sky; their viii
dows, half shaded by soft, silken drap-
cries, reflected from their glittering
panes the gilt of the candelabra and the
varied hues Of rare and many colorcd
flowers within.
This gloomy Passage des DouZc
Maisons, lighted by a single street lamp,
, seemed like side scene Of tho more
brilliant neighborhood. All that for
the moment was superlluous to the
splendor there, courted idleness here;
liverled servants, clowns in costume. a
colony Of English grooms, hostlers from
the circus, the two little hippodrome
riders on their famous ponies, and one
might even see tiny goat wagons and
pretty toy theatres, suggestive Of chill
dren's amusement. In the midst of
this, however, dreary procession of
blind men, who cleverly converted their
misfortune into capital, and evening
after evening they would wander back
to the alley, carrying their camp stools,
accordions and wooden bowls.
During my residence in the street one
of these poor creatures married, and his
wedding was the occasion Of a nights
merrymaking, q fantastic concert, to
which clarinets, hautboys, organs and
-accordions all contributed. giving forth
those so \, familiar to each and
every brugo Paris. Quiet usually
reigned supreme in this quarter, for
these street vagrants seldom returned
before dusk, and then indeed with very
weary limbs. It was only Oh Saturday
night, after Arthur had received his
wages, that there was any disturbance.
Arthur was my neighbor. A thin
wall, heightened by q trellis, was all
that separated my humble lodging from
the room which he and his wife occu.
pied. Thus, in spite of myself, there
was the necessary intimacy of proxim-
ity, and every Saturday i was forced to
become the silent witness of horrible
drama, so often enacted in tho homes
Of our Partisan workingmcn.
Tile opening scene was invariably the
s,.me. The woman would he preparing
the dinner while the children played by
her side. No matter how busy she
might be, she always spoke gently to
them. Seven O'Clock, o'clock--no-
bodyl AS the hours passed her voice
would change, and stifled sobs seemed
to echo her anxiety. Then the little
ones, growing hungry and fearful,
would begin to fret. Their father did
not come; thoy must eat without him.
BY and by these tired children would
drop off to sleep, one after the other,
md as the mother stepped out on the
narrow wooden balcony I could hear
her crying bitterly and murmuring,
$'Ohl the wretchl the wretchl'
The neighbors coming home saw and